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Seated in the parish church at Longbourn, Elizabeth Bennett could not focus on the parson’s sermon. Her mind raced with the news delivered as they arrived at the church–Netherfield Park was let at last!

The last leaseholder left months earlier, and the tenant farmers struggled to get any fields planted in spring.

Their small harvests meant the families would require assistance from all the neighbouring landowners this winter, while the owner–some gentleman in London would have to pay the taxes and church tithes from his own purse.

When her mother heard the new gentleman was unmarried, Mrs Bennet imagined the unseen man falling in love with one or other of her eligible daughters.

In the minutes before the service began, Elizabeth was forced to listen to her mother’s gossip with other neighbourhood ladies as they exchanged remarks across the pews.

Elizabeth focused her thoughts on the tired expression on her father’s face.

Mr Bennet reported to his family that once again the corn harvest in summer had not been as bountiful as in previous years.

His brightest daughter remembered that the totals of bushels matched or exceeded previous years’ harvests.

But she remained silent when Mr Bennet maintained that the rent collected the next quarter day would not be as high as last year.

Thomas reminded his family several times, “We shall be guarded with our expenses for the next twelve months. There is sufficient hay to feed our flock of sheep, the cows in the dairy, and the milk goats at the tenant farms. The horses will have oats to be healthy in spring when they labour in the fields with the farmers.”

‘And this autumn and winter when they haul wood for fires on every hearth.’

Thinking about the winter, Elizabeth counted the number of pigs and old sheep to slaughter to provide ample meat for the family and tenants.

‘We shall eat mutton and pork every day. And there are turkeys and geese for feasts at Christmas and New Year. However, chicken is off the menu until next spring. Papa had the farmers take all the young cocks to the market in London for good money.’

Thinking about coins and gold, Elizabeth returned her attention to the parson preaching on the evils of the love of money. The young woman heard the words while her thoughts remained on the foods and coins available to feed everyone at Longbourn–family, servants, and tenants.

‘Grains, meat, some turnips, and cabbages,’ she revised.

‘The goats will give milk for the children on the farms and maybe some soft cheese. I shall ensure the cows stay on the pastures as long as possible. There will be four calves in spring, and we can sell the bull calves for veal in London. I wish we could keep all the heifers. We could make butter to sell in the markets in the city.’

The parson now quoted the bible directly. “In 1 Timothy, Chapter 6, Verse 10, the Lord says, For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

The man’s sermon continued, and Elizabeth listened to him closer now, hearing the conclusion, “The Lord warns mankind not to make gold into an idol. Do not replace love for the Lord with the love of gold.”

As the parson addressed a new topic from the psalms, the young woman’s mind wandered away from his voice, ‘Shall I spend my entire life planning meals and managing a pantry to last until the next harvest?’

Glancing at her mother, she decided, ‘This year, Mamma assigned me her tasks with the servants. Jane does her share but does not press Papa or Mamma about matters. Mary reads and hides from us all. Kitty and Lydia follow Mamma like puppies. They want to be grown and think they can pursue young men. Do they understand what might happen if they caught one? And their behaviour is not very ladylike at sixteen and fourteen.’

Looking at her next youngest sister, Elizabeth resolved, ‘I shall involve Mary in more tasks around the house.’

~~~

That afternoon, with no callers at the door, there was an opportunity to talk without interruption.

Elizabeth spoke to Jane and Mary about the daily tasks around Longbourn.

These tasks included planning the menus, supervising the maids with cleaning, working with Mrs Hill to prepare foods to eat immediately, and preserving other foods for use during the winter.

Jane confirmed one set of tasks, “We must sew new shifts for the maids, blankets for our own beds, and new trousers for Papa and Mr Hill.”

Once the three elder sisters began working in concert, Elizabeth approached her mother about assigning some tasks for Kitty and Lydia.

“No,” replied Mrs Bennet immediately. “They are still children. Why should I make Lydia and Kitty spend their day sewing and counting beer tubs in the cellar?”

“Children? They are no longer in the nursery,” observed Elizabeth. “They have long skirts and must deal with the tasks gentlewomen address.”

“Oh, Lizzy, my head hurts when we argue thus,” complained Mrs Bennet.

Elizabeth still pressed her argument, “Mamma, I want my youngest sisters to be credible women when they are grown. When they marry, they must be good wives and keep their husband’s home.”

Mrs Bennet waved away her daughter’s argument with her own complaint, “The life for the wife of a country gentleman has enough drudgery without creating more.”

“Drudgery? What unending toil plagues your day, Mamma? Are you worried about finding a crust of bread to feed your hungry children or a safe drink for your husband?” Elizabeth asked with some heat in her tone of voice. “Tell me, Mamma, for I am confused.”

Looking at her daughter with a firm expression, Frances Bennet explained, “I have five lovely daughters who have no prospects for husbands. When I was your age, I was married to your father and had two children.”

Surprised by her mother’s argument, Elizabeth remained silent when her mother continued, “Jane’s beauty will fade before another year passes, you never put yourself forward, and Mary is lost in her books.”

Mrs Bennet concluded, “I must see one of my girls married to a wealthy man to secure the future of the rest of you. My hopes are on Kitty and Lydia this coming year.”

Surprised, Elizabeth asked, “What do you mean?”

“Longbourn, your father’s estate, is entailed,” stated Mrs Bennet. “The day your father dies, some cousin inherits the estate. You and your sisters receive nothing and can be thrown into the hedgerows.”

Uncomfortable with her mother’s revelation, Elizabeth replied, “That will be many years from now, Mamma.”

Shaking her head, her mother insisted, “Lizzy–you and your sisters–one of you must marry a rich young man. A rich man will think nothing of supporting unmarried sisters and a widowed mother-in-law.”

“A rich man? Mamma, such creatures do not exist in Meryton,” insisted Elizabeth.

Entering the parlour with a bonnet in her hand and hearing the end of the conversation, Lydia declared, “La! I should like to marry an officer in a red coat!”

~~~